The year it was in Bow Island and the County of Forty Mile

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

April, continued from last week’s Commentator

Medicine Hat’s Conservative Party candidate says he’s motivated to solve Canada’s problems during another term in office.

Glen Motz has held the seat of Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner for almost nine years, and is now in his fourth election campaign.

A recent County of Forty Mile Council meeting mid-March saw several important decisions made in support of community progress. Matters ranging from taxation changes to infrastructure updates were on the agenda.

Council discussed updates to the Government of Alberta Grants in Place of Taxes (GIPOT) program. Previously, the program offered 50 per cent reimbursement for taxes on grazing leases and 25 per cent for government-owned lands. Under a new policy, payments will increase to 75 per cent for 2025/26 and rise to 100 per cent in 2026/27. To address $25,216.51 in unpaid taxes related to Alberta government lands, Council approved writing off the amount in 2025.

With the province responding to what it terms the “weaponized” use of municipal Codes of Conduct, upcoming changes to the Municipal Government Act will eliminate this process of accountability.

Amendments to be made through the Municipal Statutes Amendment Act are intended “to modernize and streamline municipal processes in the Local Authorities Election Act, the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and the New Buyer Protection Act.”

May

Effective immediately, the Bow Island Health Centre emergency department (ED) will be open from 7 a.m. Friday until 7 a.m. every Monday, and closed on all other weekdays, including Thursdays.

There is an ongoing clinical personnel shortage and an inability to secure regular and consistent coverage during the remainder of the week.

As a global trade war escalates between twin superpowers that have locked horns, canola producers in Canada are bearing the brunt of China’s imposition of 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil and meal.

Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter lays the blame for this development squarely at the door of Ottawa, while advocating for the federal government to immediately drop its various tariffs against China and support canola producers.

There were a couple top students in this year’s graduating class at Senator Gershaw and Mary Reusser was somewhat nervous if she was going to be the one to come out with the highest grades.

“There is always a chance, you never know if someone else is going to sneak in there,” said Reusser. “It was a really good feeling when I was told. As much as grades aren’t an accurate representation of someone’s intelligence, it’s the only thing universities look at and I wanted to get into a good university. I also love learning, so working hard at it isn’t difficult. Learning is fun.”

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) will continue to operate as it initiates strike action with a national overtime ban. Canada Post employees in both the Urban and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units are engaged in a legal strike action that means that CUPW-represented employees will refuse to work overtime across the company.

June

Market in the Park, an initiative of the local Chamber of Commerce, is celebrating an incredible milestone – it’s the 10th anniversary of this community event. While many come to enjoy the performers and vendors, the event has a deeper meaning that ties into community connection.

Ryker Hollingsworth knew the race for valedictorian of Foremost School was close. He and another classmate, who Hollingsworth is good friends with, were unsure which of them would receive the top honour. “We’ve always been neck and neck. I think we were both trying pretty hard because we were competing with each other,” said Hollingsworth, who added his friend might be the lucky one because he doesn’t have to give a speech at graduation.

The Forty Mile Wind Farm has officially started commercial operations, marking a significant achievement in renewable energy. Developed by ACCIONA Energía, this facility stands out as one of the country’s largest wind farms and the largest project the company has ever built in North America.

The wind farm features 49 Nordex turbines. Each turbine has a capacity of 5.7 MW and a 108-metre tower height. Combined, the facility boasts a total generation capacity of 280 MW, enough to supply clean energy to tens of thousands of homes. By displacing fossil fuel-based power generation, it will reduce CO2 emissions by 600,000 metric tons annually. To put that into perspective, this is equivalent to planting 25 million trees every year.

The spirit of philanthropy is alive and well across Southern Alberta, and youth are also part of those giving back.

Recently, the North Forty Mile Recreation Society and the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta (CFSEA) teamed up to provide funds for Bow Island Servus Community Arena’s new water bottle filling stations in the dressing rooms.

The County of Forty Mile has been approved for $3,250,751 in CRTC grant funding to construct 105 kilometres of fibre infrastructure.

Through its Broadband Fund launched in 2019, the Commission contributes to a broad effort by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to address the gap in connectivity in underserved rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada.

Following the June 19 approval, the project will bring high-capacity transport services to four eligible communities in southeastern Alberta, comprising approximately 373 households. The project is expected to have a significant positive impact on the communities to be served by improving the reliability of the Internet services that they depend on.

July 

Grade 12 students in St. Michael’s School in Bow Island recently celebrated their graduation, and at the top of the class were co-valedictorians Samuelle Biegel and Dyllan Thurston.

The Town of Bow Island’s June 23 council meeting highlighted discussions around governance and accountability with a focus on a proposed bylaw to strengthen ethical standards for council members and an update on recall petition rules.

 Bylaw 2021:12 aims to set clear ethical expectations for representatives. The bylaw underlines the importance of professionalism, fairness, and respect for differing viewpoints while encouraging collaboration to advance the public good.

Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter says the Highway 3 twinning project is still going strong and on track for a projected completion sometime in mid-2026. 

“We’re on schedule, on budget, and they’re moving heaven and earth to make that happen. So I’m quite excited about that. I’m looking forward to opening that whole thing up in 2026.”

Bow Island’s Blues at the Bow (BATBOW) is celebrating its 32nd season, a milestone that speaks to its legacy in the community – and beyond. Since its founding, BATBOW has been a place for music lovers, drawing both local and out-of-town guests and headliners to its historic location.

HALO Air Ambulance’s latest helicopter is taking to the skies, coming online officially as the new HALO-1.

Introduced at a special event in February, the new craft began use for emergency medical calls as of June 29, marking a significant operational milestone for HALO.

On June 29, HALO-1 completed its inaugural emergency medical scene call to the Bow Island area, followed by an aerial reconnaissance mission of a wildfire in partnership with Cypress County Emergency Services three days later.

Over the past two-plus weeks, measles cases in Alberta’s north zone have continued to surpass the numbers in the south zone, which for months was the hotbed of viral activity. As of July 18, Alberta Health had recorded 1,407 cases of the virus province-wide, with 27 known communicable and active cases.

  In its daily update, the provincial health authority said that its case numbers may not account for undiagnosed or exposure cases.

The 2025 season has been busy for the Foremost Historical Society so far with the completion of several projects, school tours, setting up new displays, and preparing for the Foremost rodeo July weekend.

The Town of Bow Island is taking proactive steps to address its healthcare challenges by proposing the establishment of a Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC) to own and operate a primary care medical clinic. This initiative aims to enhance physician recruitment efforts and ensure the sustainability of medical services for Bow Island and surrounding communities. With only one physician currently serving the area despite approval for five, the Town sees this as a critical move to maintain access to healthcare and support the local clinic and hospital.

Bow Island set a record low temperature on July 16, as the mercury plunged to 4.8C marking the coolest July 16 since 1961.

August

More than 50 protestors wearing red and waving Canadian flags stood across the street from MLA Justin Wright’s constituency office during a Stampede barbecue attended by Premier Danielle Smith on July 25.

Residents of Southeastern Alberta will have more transportation options to get to the Stampede City as an additional bus line has been announced following a collaboration between Medicine Hat and a large service provider.

On July 28, the bussing service Flixbus began offering daily seamless round-trips to Calgary that will depart from the Transit Terminal downtown in modern buses that include Wi-Fi and a free luggage allowance.

While the prices of groceries have gone up, the National Farmers Union (NFU) is pointing the finger at corporations.

Former three-term Member of Legislative Assembly of Alberta Drew Barnes has announced his intent to run for mayor, with a vision of bringing back the “Medicine Hat Advantage.”

Barnes told Southern Alberta Newspapers he has had multiple people approach him over recent years, asking if he would consider being a mayoral candidate, and he has a strong vision for council and for the city.

The latest developments from a recent Highway 3 Twinning Commission meeting show that the project remains on schedule for completion in 2026, though opening individual sections of the highway before the project’s full completion has been deemed infeasible. The Counties of Lethbridge and Pincher Creek are no longer participating members of the Commission. Currently, progress faces delays due to unresolved issues with land acquisitions. However, the Medicine Hat-to-Whitla section is ready for construction, signaling a step forward in this multi-phase infrastructure project.

The National Farmer’s Union (NFU) is wanting to put a stop to Bill C-2 which is currently in Parliament. The bill calls for sweeping changes to Canada’s immigration and trade policies, some of which extend into the agriculture industry. 

Pushing for more pipelines had been a lonely refrain in the recent past for Alberta advocates advancing that agenda on the national scale.

Enter the great disturber in the White House in January and his near-constant threats against Canadian sovereignty and our economy, and there has been a sea change in attitudes toward national infrastructure projects among Canadians from coast to coast. 

Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build pipelines and trade infrastructure across provincial borders and into global markets. 

September 

Jewel Geldreich, a local rising star in the world of figure skating, is making waves with her recent achievements and her ability to inspire young athletes. Representing the Foremost Figure Skating Club and Cypress School of Skating, she has been skating since the age of three and has grown into a formidable competitor. One of her most recent competitions took place in California.

After a career spanning 25 years on council, including 15 as mayor, Gordon Reynolds has announced his intention to run for mayor of Bow Island again in the upcoming municipal election. From tackling infrastructure challenges to addressing housing shortages, his leadership has been defined by a commitment to finding practical solutions and delivering tangible results for residents.

The municipal election is coming up on October 20. In the Town of Bow Island, Dave Harrison is seeking a third term as a councillor.

Affable and experienced in local politics, Harrison has always been active in the community.

Noeline Hofmann, a rising star from Bow Island, was one of the semi-finalists in SiriusXM’s prestigious Top of the Country Competition, held in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association®. From her early days playing music since she was five years old to starting her songwriting journey in her early teens, Hofmann has always been dedicated as a musician.

Emergency Health Services Alberta has temporarily suspended the use of the southeastern Alberta’s air ambulance service.

CEO Paul Carolan told Southern Alberta Newspapers in a statement Sept. 16 that HALO received notice of the suspension from EHS on Sept. 11. HALO was required to submit a corrective action plan by Sept. 19.

Late last month, a special public meeting saw the Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) Board of Trustees make important decisions that impact the local education system. Now, as of September 1, a wage and benefit increase for non-unionized support staff and bus drivers is in effect, and more robust support has been allocated for student support.

Village of Foremost council gathered on Tuesday, August 19 for its regular monthly meeting. The agenda covered a range of topics impacting community services, economic development, and local infrastructure. Here is a summary of the key decisions and discussions from the meeting.

The 2025 Municipal Election campaign is now underway, so here’s a look at some of the races happening in the region as candidates hit the hustings:

Cypress County

Ward 1: Michelle McKenzie (acclaimed)

Ward 2: Blaine Brost, Michael Teliske

Ward 3: Lloyd Want (acclaimed)

Ward 4: Robin Kurpjuweit, Bill Thompson

Ward 5: Della Burkitt, Dan Hamilton

Ward 6: Dustin Vossler (acclaimed)

Ward 7: Ana McFadyen, Garry Proctor

Ward 8: Shane Hok, Les Woodrow

Ward 9: Keith Ritz (acclaimed)

County of Forty Mile

Division 1: Gary Cochrane (acclaimed)

Division 2: Diane Harty (acclaimed)

Division 3: Stacey Barrows (acclaimed)

Division 4: Pearl Jones (acclaimed)

Division 5: Tammy Reimer (acclaimed)

Division 6: Don Drake (acclaimed)

Division 7: Jim Babe (acclaimed)

Town of Bow Island 

Mayor: Gordon Reynolds (acclaimed)

Candidates (six positions): Randi Belcourt, Denise Curliss, David Harrison, Robin Knibbs, Lowell Leffler, Brad Parkinson, William Ressler, Shannon Strom

October

Local elections have a direct impact on our daily lives, from the quality of our roads to community programs and local business support. As the upcoming municipal election approaches, it’s more important than ever for residents to be informed and engaged. Understanding who the candidates are and what they stand for is a critical part of making a responsible choice at the ballot box.

Wes Paterson, a consultant based in Medicine Hat, has won a prestigious management consulting award for an initiative to repurpose orphan wells in the province.

Hundreds of local educators, supporters and students gathered in Kin Coulee Park on Oct. 8, many wearing red shirts saying “I Heart Alberta Education” and holding signs sharing their support.

Members of Prairie Rose Public Schools and Grasslands Public Schools from Brooks, as well as Medicine Hat Public School Division and the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education, attended a large rally held at the Kin Coulee Bandshell from noon until 3 p.m.

Bow Island has a bright future, and this was evident at this year’s Pinto’s Princess competition. On September 5-6, eight young ladies from the area showcased talents, speeches, and community service in an effort to earn a spot representing the town for the upcoming 2025-2026 year.

The unofficial results are in, so here’s a look at how the local races concluded for the 2025 Municipal Election. The Commentator/Courier will be following up with features on some of the winners in coming weeks and editions. Results not listed here were determined previously by acclamation.

Cypress County

Ward 2: Blaine Brost (146)

Ward 4: Robin Kurpjuweit (102)

Ward 5: Dan Hamilton (178)

Ward 7: Garry Proctor (181)

Ward 8: Shane Hok (55)

Town of Bow Island

Mayor: Gordon Reynolds (previously acclaimed)

Council: Bill Ressler (215); Robin Knibbs (209); Denise Curliss (178); Dave Harrison (167); Lowell Leffler (134); Randi Belcourt (112)

Town of Redcliff

Mayor: Chris Czember (735)

Council: Bernie Bakker (684); Matthew St. Pierre (548); Bradie Burns (497); Larry Liepert (481); Eric Solberg (446); Dwight Kilpatrick (439)

Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees

Ward 3: Pam Cursons (584), Darren Howes (374)

Municipal District of Taber

Division 3: David Torrie (126)

Division 4: Tamara Miyanaga (116)

November

Save the date!

“County of Forty Mile! It’s time to get excited as we introduce the 2026 Forty Mile Southern Alberta Summer Games, which will be held from Wednesday, July 8 to Saturday, July 11, 2026,” says Kaylee Hurt, Town of Bow Island Recreation Facilitator and Games Coordinator.

Bow Island & District Health Foundation’s annual Trees of Hope campaign has returned for its 2025-2026 season. All the funds raised support the local Palliative Care program. Last year’s campaign raised $9,276.00 and recognized 84 donors (several preferred to remain anonymous).

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees’ AHS nursing care members have voted to strike, should mediations not reach an agreement in the coming days.

The Foremost Theatrical Society is excited about its latest production, Always a Bridesmaid. Taking place at the Foremost Community Hall on November 27, 28 & 29, your $50 ticket to this dinner theatre includes a meal, the show, and a lifetime of memories.

The dispute between Alberta teachers and the provincial government has escalated and teachers could legally enter strike action again pending a decision from the province’s highest court.

The Bow Island Health Centre emergency department is re-extending its hours, though AHS says a staff shortage remains.

Sweeping boundary changes are being proposed for the current Taber-Warner electoral district in the province’s recent Interim Electoral Boundaries Report.

Redrafting the constituency into a new Cardston-Taber-Warner riding would bring in a large area north of the Oldman River including Vauxhall and the province’s southwest region including Cardston, the Blood Reserve and Waterton – essentially a redrawn version of the previous Cardston-Taber-Warner electoral district that existed from 1996 to 2017.

Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter is less than enthusiastic about the proposed changes, citing issues involving effective representation of the Highway 3 agri-food corridor.

County of Forty Mile’s council met for its regular meeting on Wednesday, October 22 addressing a range of important topics impacting local residents and infrastructure. From council remuneration to critical infrastructure projects, the meeting highlighted the county’s commitment to transparency and progress.

Council approved updated remuneration rates for the term. Effective immediately, the reeve will receive $1,750 per month, the deputy reeve $1,250, and councillors $1,000. Additionally, the mileage reimbursement rate was increased to align with the current Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rate, retroactive to the day of the decision.